In The Reformatory, Tananarive Due delivers a gripping historical horror novel that cuts deep – exploring systemic racism, institutional brutality, and the ghosts that linger long after the wounds of injustice are buried.
A master of blending the supernatural with the painfully real, Due draws from the horrors of real-life reform schools like the Dozier School for Boys, turning this story into far more than a ghost tale. The Reformatory becomes a reckoning – a story of survival, injustice, and the quiet power of human connection in the face of cruelty.
In this review, we’ll dig into how Due weaves historical fact with chilling fiction, how she gives voice to the silenced, and why The Reformatory feels both timeless and urgently relevant today. It’s a haunting tribute to resilience – and a reminder of the stories we must never forget.
📖 Overview
The Reformatory – Tananarive Due
Gracetown, Florida. June 1950.
Twelve-year-old Robbie Stephens Jr. is sentenced to six months at the Gracetown School for Boys, a reformatory, for kicking the son of the largest landowner in town in defense of his older sister, Gloria. So begins Robbie’s journey further into the terrors of the Jim Crow South and the very real horror of the school they call The Reformatory.
Robbie has a talent for seeing ghosts, or haints. But what was once a comfort to him after the loss of his mother has become a window to the truth of what happens at the reformatory. Boys forced to work to remediate their so-called crimes have gone missing, but the haints Robbie sees hint at worse things. Through his friends Redbone and Blue, Robbie is learning not just the rules, but how to survive. Meanwhile, Gloria is rallying every family member and connection in Florida to find a way to get Robbie out before it’s too late.
🧠 Themes and Inspiration
The Reformatory is inspired by the real-life atrocities committed at the Dozier School for Boys in Florida, where Due’s own great-uncle, Robert Stephens, died in 1937. The novel delves into themes of systemic racism, the corrupt justice system, and the enduring impact of slavery’s legacy. Through the lens of supernatural horror, Due examines how the past continues to haunt the present, both literally and metaphorically.
What’s it About?
Set in 1950s Jim Crow Florida, the story follows twelve-year-old Robbie Stephens Jr., who is unjustly sentenced to the Gracetown School for Boys – a fictionalised version of the infamous Dozier School. There, he must navigate not only the brutality of the corrupt system but also the spiritual weight of the place: the presence of “haints,” the tormented spirits of those who didn’t survive.
Why It’s More Than Just the Blurb
At first glance, The Reformatory might seem like a chilling Southern ghost story, but it’s so much more. What elevates it is how Due uses the horror genre to explore very real, very human pain. This is a book that grapples with historical truth and doesn’t flinch, even as it threads moments of beauty and tenderness through the violence. It’s a supernatural novel that forces you to face reality.
🔍 Deep Dive
Let’s dig into what’s going on beneath the surface, without spoiling anything. From the brutal machinery of institutional racism, to the spiritual aftershocks of unresolved trauma, to the small, bright sparks of hope and defiance that flicker between people even in the darkest places, The Reformatory is loaded with meaning.
Due doesn’t present evil as a faceless force – she names it. From the sadistic overseer Haddock, who commits horrific acts against children, to the quiet complicity of those who allow these systems to continue, the novel examines how cruelty is institutionalised and maintained. And yet, it also offers a subtle but powerful commentary on the necessity of trust – between siblings, between boys inside the reformatory, and between the living and the dead.
What’s Inside? (Spoiler-Free Breakdown)
You’ll find a richly layered, atmospheric horror novel that doesn’t shy away from grief, injustice, or the supernatural. At its core, this is a coming-of-age story under siege – Robbie is forced to grow up in a place designed to erase him. The ghosts he sees aren’t evil – they’re trapped, just like him. And the system demands he betray them in exchange for a promise of freedom he may never receive.
The narrative is beautifully balanced between Gloria’s fight on the outside and Robbie’s survival on the inside. Gloria, his older sister, is fierce and determined, representing the power of advocacy and familial love in the face of systemic oppression. Her belief in Robbie fuels the emotional heart of the story.
Equally powerful are Robbie’s bonds with the other boys – especially Blue and Redbone, who serve as emotional anchors, helping him stay grounded as his world grows increasingly violent and surreal. Together, they embody the strength found in solidarity and shared suffering.
The injustice is suffocating, but Due’s characters are never helpless victims. They resist in every way they can – through love, through memory, through simple acts of kindness and courage. The novel’s supernatural elements heighten the emotional stakes without ever distracting from the real horrors it’s rooted in.
Full Review By Jasmine
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Tananarive Due’s The Reformatory is one of those rare novels that leaves a lasting mark on your heart and mind. It is a gut-wrenching, deeply moving portrayal of the horrors of institutionalised racism, and a brilliant piece of storytelling that blends historical truth with supernatural elements to profound effect.
From the outset, the writing is stunning. Due’s prose is rich and immersive – not just technically impressive, but emotionally resonant. You feel the suffocating heat of Gracetown, the crushing weight of injustice, the constant fear and confusion Robbie faces as a twelve-year-old Black boy sentenced to a brutal reform school for a so-called crime that should never have been punished.
What really stands out is how well the book communicates the sheer impossibility of Robbie’s situation. He’s punished not just by an unjust system, but by every adult who turns a blind eye – or worse, revels in the cruelty. The Reformatory is a place built on despair, and yet somehow, even in that darkness, there are moments of connection, hope, and resilience. Robbie’s ability to see haints – ghosts of the many boys who died there – becomes both a gift and a curse. He’s forced into the horrifying position of catching these spirits in order to survive, even though the haints themselves are desperate, suffering souls who don’t want to be caught.
It’s hard to imagine how terrifying it must be to have your survival depend on hurting others who’ve already been through the worst, all while knowing that the very people making you do it are using your pain for entertainment and control. However, Due does an excellent job of capturing that emotional and psychological torment – the guilt, the fear, the helplessness – in a way that feels both deeply human and hauntingly surreal. Through Robbie’s eyes, we see just how twisted and dehumanising the system is, and how impossible it is to make moral choices in a world that’s stripped you of agency.
The novel doesn’t shy away from the systemic rot of the reformatory system – it exposes it fully. The character of Haddock is especially chilling: a cruel, sadistic overseer who embodies the worst of institutional power and racial hatred. Through him, Due shows just how normalised violence against Black children was – and how little recourse they had to escape it.
And yet, amid the horror, there is strength – so much strength. Robbie himself is an incredible character: not just a survivor, but someone constantly making difficult choices to protect others. His love for his sister Gloria is one of the most powerful elements in the novel. Their bond is unshakeable, and it’s Gloria’s determination and bravery on the outside – fighting a legal battle that seems impossible – that gives the story its heartbeat. Her belief in Robbie and her refusal to give up on him even when the system tries to grind them both down is both heartbreaking and inspiring. They are two sides of the same coin – a reminder that survival under oppression often requires both inward endurance and outward resistance.
Additionally, Robbie’s relationships formed in the Reformatory are lifelines. Each of the boys is carrying trauma, but they still manage to show kindness, bravery, and loyalty. Blue’s quiet strength and Redbone’s fierceness help anchor Robbie through some of his darkest moments, reminding him (and the reader) that even in places built to break people, community and solidarity can be acts of resistance.
Ultimately, The Reformatory is a story about survival in the face of impossible odds. It’s also a sobering reminder that the ghosts of history aren’t so far behind us. Due doesn’t offer neat resolutions or easy catharsis, and that’s part of what makes the novel so powerful. The pain, the injustice, the unresolved grief – it lingers, as it should.
This is more than just a compelling story, it’s an essential one. It forces you to sit with the truth of what was done to children in America’s reformatory system, while also showing how love, connection, and resistance can endure even in the darkest of places. A brilliant, harrowing, unforgettable read.
🏆 Critical Acclaim
The Reformatory has received widespread critical acclaim and several prestigious awards:
- 2024 Bram Stoker Award for Best Novel
- 2024 World Fantasy Award for Best Novel
- 2023 Shirley Jackson Award for Best Novel
- 2024 Chautauqua Prize
Critics have praised the novel for its compelling narrative, richly drawn characters, and unflinching portrayal of historical injustices.
🎯 For the Right Reader
If you’re drawn to horror that doesn’t just scare – but also informs, enrages, and moves you – The Reformatory is a must-read. It’s historical horror with a soul: devastating, beautifully written, and unflinchingly honest. Tananarive Due weaves a story that isn’t just about ghosts – it’s about the very real hauntings of racial violence, institutional corruption, and generational trauma. This is a novel for readers who want to feel something and think deeply while they do. For more historical reads check out the full list here >>
Where I Found It
I first heard about The Reformatory through a TikTok that recommended it for fans of Sinners – which, let’s be real, is an incredible movie. The mention of a haunting, thought-provoking story instantly grabbed me, and I’m so glad it did. The Reformatory more than lived up to the hype.
💡 FAQs
Here are some of the top things readers are curious about when it comes to The Reformatory.
What is the book The Reformatory about?
The Reformatory by Tananarive Due is a historical horror novel that follows twelve-year-old Robbie Stephens Jr. who is unjustly sentenced to a brutal reform school called the Gracetown School for Boys. While imprisoned, Robbie discovers he has the ability to see ghosts – known as “haints” – the spirits of other boys who died there. Robbie must fight for survival in a system built to break him. The story blends supernatural horror with real historical atrocities to explore themes of racism, injustice, and resilience.
Is the book The Reformatory based on a true story?
Yes, The Reformatory is inspired by real events, particularly the horrific history of the Dozier School for Boys in Marianna, Florida, where numerous boys were abused, killed, and buried in unmarked graves. Tananarive Due’s own great-uncle, Robert Stephens, died at the Dozier School in 1937. Although the characters and plot are fictional, the novel draws heavily from historical truths to shed light on the brutal legacy of the U.S. reformatory system.
How long is the Reformatory book?
The Reformatory is 576 pages long. It’s a substantial read, but the storytelling is so gripping and emotionally powerful that many readers find themselves absorbed from start to finish.
👋 Final Thoughts
The Reformatory is a masterclass in historical horror – a novel that lingers with you long after you turn the final page. Tananarive Due has crafted something that is both a chilling ghost story and a deeply compassionate reckoning with America’s brutal past. It’s not an easy read – nor should it be. The pain, injustice, and fear Robbie and the other boys face are unflinching and raw. But what makes this book so remarkable is its heart. Amid the darkness, there’s love, resistance, and the fierce will to survive.
This is a story about what it means to hold onto hope when everything is designed to crush it. It’s about family – both chosen and blood – and the strength it takes to believe in a better future, even when the present is unbearable. Robbie’s journey is harrowing, but it’s also deeply human, filled with quiet courage, impossible choices, and the haunting cost of injustice.
Whether you’re a longtime horror fan or new to the genre, The Reformatory is essential reading. It doesn’t just ask you to witness the past – it asks you to remember it. To sit with it. To carry it. And maybe, to change because of it.
Unforgettable, unrelenting, and urgently relevant.